Does Anyone Else...

...have to feed their kid like they're a baby bird to get them to eat? I really wonder sometimes if Kiddo is trolling me hardcore, because she's done this since, well, day one of self-feeding.

But I couldn't get her to eat this (smaller portioned, of course) superhardchampion meal...

This meal courtesy of my mad skills, Lidl, Tesco, and the United States Postal Service

...because she's doublejonesy for some PB&J. I make gourmet dinners and all she wants is the classic field trip stand-by.

That's African springbok(!) in the southwestern corner, bordered on the north by Belgian Brussels sprouts and on the east by Uncle Ben's tasty San Franciscan treat.

Why won't she eat it?! That meat's badass. Like butter and no, not like the time I ate butter on camera (heh, that was fun) but like so tender I could use a fork to cut it, no knife! And as for fat and gristle? Non-existent.

Will she eat chicken? No. PB&J? Of course, dummy. That's patriotism, that is. Will she eat meatloaf? Yes...odd, that, even with considering how my meatloaf would kick your mom's and grandmother's ass... meatloaf's ass, not theirs. And I sometimes still have to feed her by hand. Like we're not done with the whole imprinting/bonding process. Did I stop nursing too early?

Meh. That's not it.

She's got no problem eating fruit on her own as long as I get the fruit washed first. (GASP, BOOM, SHUDDER...there may have been times she's eaten unwashed fruit! Horrible mother.) I bought a bag of apples on Saturday. There are none left. Hell, I have to restrain her from chowing down on the wild strawberries growing out the back. She'll eat the green ones if I'm not constant vigilante.

"Honey, Mommy needs to wash it first. No, don't eat it just yet, it needs to be washed. Babygirl, let's walk the 50 feet to the kitchen so I can wash it. NO, I SAID NO! IT'S DIRTY!"
 Look at her, kid's so drunk with lust for that strawberry. Not even paying any attention to me.

It's great! Today, I taught her how to open a banana. Why so late? Because she's hit and miss when it comes to food. Food she liked two years ago, two months ago, two weeks ago (I'm done) even aren't safe from her censorial "blegh". She'll make the good food choices; real fruit versus Welch's fruit snacks, until the real fruit's all gone...then she goes after those little bags of gummy goodness. And she goes AllieBrosh-like on ice cream like how Allie Brosh goes on cake. She is almost four, y'all.

So I still wonder, do the lunch ladies at Nursery feed her by hand, too? Should I get a meal calendar from the school, so I know what's she's eating? I want to set up a CCTV feed direct streaming to my laptop so that I can  watch gather evidence figure out what to do about this, to prove it one way or the other. It'd probably violate many of those children's parents' official wishes to disallow their child from being  photographed (that's a totally separate issue) but this is getting serious for me! I have to know, for reals like, if Kiddo is already a mastertroll, manipulating me and her dad so that she gets what she wants, how she wants. If so, then babybird girl's done me proud.

Because I like to think she gets it from me.

Fun Video Friday with a Side of Sunshine Herpes

As always, there are a few things one must do to accept this award:

1. Thank the person who gave you this award and link back to them

2. Tell us something about yourself

3. Nominate 10 other bloggers

4. Contact these other bloggers and let them know they've received this award

1. Thank you Mallori! Your Life is Beautiful  brings me sunshine everytime I read it.  I'm really happy for you on your "big girl panties" journey.

2. I will never ever again buy new pants when I can go to a tailor. Best shopping experience I ever had was just this week. I took some pants to be taken in and when I picked them up after, they fit! No dressing rooms, no harried and disinterested salespeople. Just me and the lady who efficiently caressed my hips. 

3. All of the following bring sunshine to cold, grey,  and gloomy County Durham. The nominees are:

Bouncin' Barb- Barb, your last post was full of onions!

Lance- who thinks his blog can beat up your blog... and he's write.

Natalie at My Blog is Boring- kill that gal with kindness or as I prefer, aggressive friendly.

Stephanie of the Odd Duck- If I could pick a style, I'd pick rockabilly chic too.

Ms Blase' of Adult Awkwardness- What are holidays if not to eat the special food for it...um, hello? Passover?

Somnia of You are Loved - Keep on singing in that shower, girl!

Katie@ChickenNoodleGravyTrainBoatCasino- You know, you really should take my button down. But because of you and ML, traffic has increased to tens. 

TexaGermaFinlaNadian- Girl, you are too funny. And thanks for having my back.

Tai Tai- Like everyone else in the world, I'm sure you've got problems. However, you live in a travel brochure. No sympathy, girl. None. 

Michon Michon/Jules- I like the new direction you're going, I liked the old one too. So far, so good. Damn, I just thought of a Dave Matthews Band song .. so much to say, so much to say...I find sometimes it's easier to be myself, sometimes I find it's better to be somebody else.

4. Consider yourselves contacted.

And now for something completely different but typical for Friday
Watch the whole thing...and smile the whole time.

In Soviet Russia, books read you!

I could use my front yard as a dinner salad

The weather right now is fairly damp, here at the official onset of summer. Our front yard's grass has been green and peppered with dandelion leaves and blossoms. Although, come to think on it, the dandelions haven't puffballed yet. Hmm.

All throughout this past winter, my little lawn stayed an unholy shade of green under the snow drifts, but remained fairly short. No need to break out the lawn mower and rake when there's three feet of snow outside your front door. But it's late June now and the grass is growing tall again... It's a silent pissing contest; which of us can go the longest before they cave in and mow the damn lawn?

I lose all the time. Yes. I'm a keeping-up-with-the-Joneses Nagging Nancy. In fact, or rather, I can't keep up with these Joneses... they've got roses, real ones. I've got dandelions.

But I'm saving those for a salad.

I mean come on, look at it... it's the size of a friggin' postage stamp. That lawn ain't nothin'!

Oh salad! You so crazy!

But then, there's the lawn mower.

Old. Decrepit. Maybe even broken but it still turns on, so...

When we moved here, I thought "okay, that lawn's not so big. He'll definitely be able for it."

I forgot he's 6'4''. The lawnmower handlebars only come up so far as his knees. Bending over to mow the lawn hurts his back.

Well, bending over to vacuum the floor twinges mine. As does cleaning the bathtub and toilet.

But it isn't as if I can't give mowing a go every once in a while. Or maybe I can convince my neighbor that while he's mowing his postage stamp, he can mow ours at the same time too. I mean, it's right there and as long as he's there, why not? He can even have some lawn greens for his dinner salad.


 This week's writing prompt at Studio30+ is "The grass is growing tall again."

Decision Dice

In one of those really neat things about the blogworld, our activities today were because of this wonderful lady, Amanda

Amanda blogs at city girl gone coastal... She's a very creative gal, who's mom to two very lucky little twin boys!  Many times, I've read her stuff and thought, "holy shnikies...wow". She's always coming up with great crafty things (which, if you knew me in real life, you'd know I fancy that lifestyle) for her to doll up her space or for her two boys to play with. She gives step by step instructions, illustrated with pictures, as she completes the project. It's Crafting for Dummies like Mollie. 

When she posted about the Decision Dice as the perfect solution for curing indecisive children, I wanted one for me! It's been hard at times to decide what activities to do with Kiddo... so many to choose from! 

I convinced Amanda to make one for Kiddo. I offered hundreds of dollars, which she refused, since they don't accept dollars as currency here. So I offered to pay for the materials... and...

...that's a quality purchase! Look at that happy face! First, Kiddo and I played with the Decision Dice inside...it makes a great ball for inside the house play! And then we made cards to put inside the pockets, like so: 

Which resulted in the following:

 A walk where we got to see poppies growing in a field of wheat

Thanks to Lauren for the touch up! Photo taken with my Google HTC phone.
...as well as a masterpiece of artwork, created by both of us...

...which ultimately looks like a pizza. 

And now, Kiddo is tired and using the D.D. as a pillow while she watches Creature Comforts. A brilliantly successful day. Thank you Amanda!

Dancing with Abandon, The Barking Cat, and your weekly dose of Blog Herpes

You know that sentimental Purkey quote about love, life and dancing and watching?  I think this guy is the only guy who really lives that poem like he means it.

This kid dances at his bus stop like this every day.


What do you do everyday with such joyful abandon?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand because cats on the internet is what makes the sun rise and set (NEVER A MISCOMMUNICATION!) I leave you with the cat who wished to be a dog.

I totally love how he got all embarrassed from being caught barking.

***

Round two of Blog Herpes Innoculation - In hopes of immunization...I give you

From Jessey at The Minute Man's Wife  and Kristina at A Perfect Dose of Life

The rules for this particular award are pretty easy. 

1) Tell you who gave it to me. 

2) Put up a link to their blog. 

3)Pay it Forward to five more bloggers.

I had no idea TMMW's real name was Jessey until recently, but because of the unique world created by the online social network that is blogging, I think I do know her and quite well. Doesn't hurt that she gets close to telling all, either. Her life hasn't been all that sunshinelollipoppy recently and I hope you will stop by her blog to bestow some lovin'.

I mentioned Kristina in the last blog herpes giveaway because she was a victim awardee. Always, she is a happy part of the time of day when I'm reading Google reader. And when I get back to the states, I'm buying a Tazo Rooibus chai for her. I kick her ass at Words with Friends half the time. The other half, she pulls the rug out from under me. CURSE YOU KMSTREETER12509!

The following cats are good bloggers. Go forth and stalk.

• TriGirl at Tri-ing to be Athletic  An inspiring amateur athlete who blogs about her mishaps on her feet and stationary bike via drawings. 
• Nicole at Truth and Circumstances and Ninja Mom REAL ULTIMATE POWER IS NINJA MOM! She could totally take down a hippopotamus with her mom eyes.
• Breann at Life and Love of a ParrotHead New to me sorta-ish, but it's high time we get to know one another. Plus, she's an architect or rather, a designer for an architecture firm. I have a soft spot for architects....so she qualifies.
• Slidecutter Patti at Another Cookie Please It's said about her a bunch, but this woman is one of the most positive individuals even with her past experiences with her family. I know what she experienced in second hand way, and I wish I had had her kind of grace. She leaves the best comments and is a pretty good writer in her own right. 
• Dr Cynicism at Cynicism 101 He's basically me if I was a college professor and I blogged about the stupid shit college freshmen utter and commit. Sometimes I wish I had a teaching job just so I could say, 'Hey Dr C...guess what Herpette said to Derpette today?' because he'd totally be like "FML, I'm getting them when they graduate, right?" Plus, he's a writer for Sprocket Ink... creme de la creme of blogworld.

Not as bad, but still not ideal

Thanks for the outpouring of support...I'm a bit overwhelmed by some of you, who don't know me or Kiddo. I appreciate your ninja/hippotamus skills in 'getting my back'. The child in question, in addition to having cerebral palsy, has some emotional issues that the school (for legal reasons) cannot explain explicitly to me. What I do know, is that he has the disability that prevents him from achieving empathy for others. What I don't know is if it is a result of brain chemical imbalance or an environmental affectation.

After the anger  rage abates, I feel sorry for the boy. No, hear me out.

Up until just recently, for perfectly logical reasons, very few of the children would play with him. Kiddo was one of three who would play with and sit at lunch with him. He has no friends and his mother is a single, working mom. She may have a boyfriend, but really, what kind of help is that? And she's going to have to deal with this for the rest of his life. He's going to have to be this way for the rest of his life.

I'd rather be in a man-made prison than one like that.

I went to the school to get more of the issue clarified yesterday. I spoke with the deputy headteacher, AKA assistant principal, who also happens to be the lead teacher in Kiddo's classroom. It is he who is removed from any room or outdoor space, should Kiddo decide that is where she wants to be. It is he who no longer participates in group activities. He is the one who takes his meals in the small room, off of the cloakroom. Kiddo's routine has had no changes whatsoever. I apologize if I gave that impression. I can see now how it could be construed in such way.

I asked why he hadn't been removed from the school permanently because of this event. It is because of the nature of his IEP. It is illegal for the school to do more than what they are doing at this time. Prior to this, they weren't allowed to touch him. Now, they are. This is the nature of special education in this region of the world. Inclusion, schminclusion.

After my conversation with the deputy headteacher, I am slightly appeased and my worries are marginally assuaged. I asked for the report's wording to be amended, from "pushed" to "slammed".  I'm still going to speak to the headteacher since she was not there when I went to the school. No big deal, a death in her family.

Wow, that sounded callous.

Anyway, he will no longer be in the after-school program (the where and when the event happened) after tomorrow. He will still be allowed to attend the school portion of the day, which for him is three hours of Nursery in the morning. Kiddo attends in the afternoon. While not being swift and harsh justice, it is a gentle and unrelenting sort of discipline. So British.

***

In other news, my feet are not as bad as they were. They are however, far from ideal. So I did something radical. It made me do this to my chin and eyebrows:

It felt like ticklish pins and needles. Can you guess what it is?

It's legen....

WAIT FOR IT..............

DARY!!!!

Garra rufa fish, aka DOCTOR FISH!

Click on this word to find out more about Dr. Fish since I'm really not going to be able to answer your many many many questions.

FEEDING FRENZY!

And my feet are so minty fresh and smooth! While my callouses are not totally and completely gone, the overall condition of my feet are much better.

I thought, what the hell? It was "Buy One Get One Free". I asked for more than two fish and the lady looked at me weird. Turns out I get to have a free Garra Rufa fish pedicure when I buy a Garra Rufa fish pedicure.

The lady warned me before I put my feet in to "look ahead and don't look down until you get used to it. Because it's for the best." I asked her to take a picture of me as soon as I put my feet in for the first time.

Probably not all that inspiring of a face, but hey... there's half a smile!

 I think they should have a wall of such pictures for potential customers to peruse as they're pondering whether or not to get the Doctor Fish pedi-nibblefest.

The result was that my feet felt like how I imagine Jason Segal's hair. Smooth and silky.

A++!!! Would buy from again!

Control Issues

I've learned that I control the weather in the UK.

NO REALLY!

If I (or the Man even) decide to do laundry, it rains. If I say, "no, laundry. I shall not lay hands upon thee", it won't rain. Except for today. Today, I got lucky with my rain dance... I am native American after all.

One year ago today. It was cold then, it's cold now. 

New pub in town had this masterpiece: Proscuitto, honey, tomato, figs, and fresh mozzarella. C'est tres bella. Me gusta.

My new pub bev fave since cokes are not to be found at my local. It's fizzy orange juice. But boy oh boy, does it give me the burpy hiccups!

And this is what I've been pissed about for a week. There's this little boy at kiddo's school who has some severe and profound disabilities. He did this to her.
This is what the report says:
"After school club children were outside. Kiddo was playing with wooden blocks alone...*** came outside, went straight to her and grabbed her by the hair and pushed her face into a wooden block on the ground."

Uh, 'scuse me?

No, he had to have "slammed" her face into that block, not "pushed" to get that big of bruise on her face. Also, he pulled out a big chunk of her hair.


I say, fuck inclusion...because this isn't the first time shit like this has happened to her caused by this same child. I honestly don't give a flying fuck if someone's retarded or not...when you hurt my child, you need to be expelled.

So here's the school's solution:

The two children with be kept away from each other. If one is outside, the other must be inside. The two shall take their meals separately.

I understand IEPs. I've implemented them before. But I've never agreed with the policy that just because a child is on a BIP or IEP, that when they are violent, their consequences are different than everyone else's. And so, what I want to know is... when can I go mano y mano with that mom?

I can not wait to get out of here.

Steve McQueen and Round One of Blog Herpes Innoculation

I think I'm hosted by TexaGermaNadian today for Frackin' Friday... Geordiespeakeasyness. Go check it out!

This is greatness for Fun Video Friday. And here's why. Cats are great. Steve McQueen was great. A cat named Steve McQueen can therefur only be greatness. This guy made a TV intro for his cat's life...Wouldn't you watch it? I would, for like three episodes. Because then it'd be canceled and I couldn't watch it after that.



See? Greatness.

***

I don't remember when my first Blog Herpes was bestowed, but I do know that I am the hipster that coined the mint terminology Blog Herpes. Give props where props are due people.

I've been given several awards recently. I've finally recovered...I get around. You should leave comments so I can come visit your blog so I can decide to bestow upon thee some Blog Herpes. You will love it. Here's Round 1:

From Missy at If it's not ok, then it's not the end...

Missy is a sweet lil gal mint posh totty who doesn't get her knickers in a twist if her tash is macked on by a chavette. She lives in sunny County Durham and is a teacher! Who could afford to go away on a holiday/minibreak to NYC! Anyway, I'd like to thank Missy in all her poshtottinessglory and maybe someday I can buy her a pint after work. I don't think she's banned from Wetherspoons but if she is, then we'll just go to The Swan and Three Cygnets. Haway now, go on and visit her. She's a canny lass who always helps me with my Geordiespeak.

Here's where I rub 7 random facts onto you like palm oil...

1. I have dreams about people dying and I wake up crying. Usually, it's either my mam or kiddo. Also, I have dreams where my teeth fall out. I should floss more.
2. I got a Monday job working for couple who own a chef/beautician supply store. I don't know more than that. I just know that I'm going to be doing stuff, like invoices and mailing packages. Yay for college.
3. I think people who want to move to England have only either seen it in the movies or have just visited London.
4. It's likely that I still hold the record for the most books checked out at the Ada Public Library ...for one summer...I would like to say that I hope someone has beaten it, because that was a long time ago...but I really don't. 
5. I don't have any fancy bras. Just white, black, and beige. I wear the beige one when I wear white shirts.
6. I play Words with Friends like a mad fiend. My current opponents are kmstreeter12509 and sleepyjean10. Get the app so you can play with us. It's like Scrabble. I'm mollieisokinuk
7. I used to have to beg The Man for Indian food excursions. Now, he likes it more than I do. I'm still more gustatorily and culinarily adventurous than he is. 

And now I pass it on to 7 people who I don't have to pimp out, but how else would you know why I like them?

ArtsyNina 

I'm a new follower of hers; around two or three weeks. She's renovating her house among other stuff, like experiencing life and living it. But I love watching house renovations. So, I'm excited to see what's in store for it. Life, schmife. Srsly, she's great.

Kristina @ a perfect dose of life

Ah, my portableScrabble nemesis. I really like this kiddo. She's moving to Colorado. Good luck with that! She's just an all around positive kiddo and while she's not really a kiddo, she's not old like me...so I can call her a kiddo. We're about even at Scrabble....maybe I have the edge?

Narragansett #7

One of the best writers out there. Am waiting for her to tap me on the shoulder and ask me to be her readerslasheditor. I'm cheap and fast. (heh heh, that's what she said) She also onceuponatime said some really nice things about me, unprompted by an award meme or anything...just because...and that made my day, week, and month. I just have to keep living up to that praise, shazambooie!!

Michelle at The American Resident

Michelle is an expat who actually likes living over here...prolly because she's here for the duration, with marriage to a native and kids who are natives.  Also, she's a fellow Oklahoman who lives in a reno'd pub. HonesttoBetsy! She's flabbergastingly professional and I always experience a frisson of excitement whenever she drops by my amateur hour.

The outspoken introvert

When she posts, which is not often, you know that you're reading a well-thought-out, crafted gem of several paragraphs. It's food for thought. And now I'm full.

LeighAnn @Twin Spin @Genie in a blog

I like my Twitter conversations with LeighAnn. She's the reason why I started back up again. She writes for several journals, plus her blog, plus mommying twins and a spare. And she looks good doing it...'it' being the classy manner in which she simultaneously parents and ignores children. My guru. Her new name is Guru Latortwipina

Okay, I'm done.

Day 30

Day 30- An author that you'll read, whatever they put out.

George R.R. Martin, Edward Rutherfurd, Terry Pratchett, Cecilia Ahern, and Christopher Moore. Bit of a spectrum there, eh?

Why? Well...

Martin is Martin. Rutherfurd is consistently epic, Ahern is the daughter of the old Taoiseach of Ireland and was a popstar princess...she's champion. Pratchett and Moore are quirky, irreverent, and hilarious. Pratchett is suffering from Alzheimer's but he's trying to develop a cure. Haway, Pratchett!

Interestingly, I haven't read any of the extra books JK Rowling published as addendums to the HP World. Really not all that interested in Babbity Rabbity and the Cackling Stump.



I'm so glad I'm done with this challenge.

Day 29

Day 29- An author you completely avoid/hate/won't read

I got two of them; Stieg Larsson and Nicholas Sparks.

If you've been following the whole 30 Days of Books Challenge then you know all there is to know about Stieg and me.

....this feels redundant...or there's some deja vu going on.

Nicholas Sparks... I know how every single one of his books is going to end. So do you, don't lie to yourself.

Here's how it goes:

1. Start with two pretty white people 
2. Include an obstacle that makes love between them seem impossible
3. They fall in love anyway
4. Throw in a completely-out-of-left-field, exploitative, awful disaster that only serves to jerk tears and turn an otherwise forgettable romance into a tragedy.
5. Rinse. Repeat.

Source of my vitriolic list...does it count that it was referring to the movies and not the books per se, but when you think about it, since the books are the movies' source, then it makes sense?

Plus, Nicholas Sparks doesn't think he writes romance novels... because, and I quote, "if you look for me, I'm in the fiction section. Romance has its own section." 

Bless him.

So I guess I can't stand Nicholas Sparks because of his self-delusion and also because, when I read his books, I end up looking like this: 

source

...only with more snot, redness, and swelling.

A Trolldad, A Foul-mouthed 10 year old, and Day 28

Best link of the day: http://waveatthebus.blogspot.com/

Trolldad waves at his son's bus every morning. The son's in high school. So awesomely embarrassing! I think I would've loved it if my friends did too.

Fun Video for Friday because Sunday should never be allowed to not let Friday go unacknowledged.

Found it here. Why are cursing kids so funny?


Day 28- A book you wish you'd never read.

I wish I'd never read books on Friday or Saturday nights whilst I was a young and vibrant girl in college. There were many a night where I stayed in and read a book, instead of going out with friends.

Okay, I really have no idea if that's a true story or if I'm just place-holding. Or if it's because I really don't want to tell you the answer that pops into my head EVERY time I ask myself what is a book I wish I'd never read.

It's not very shocking, truthfully. It's the Bible.  I've read enough of it to know what it is about but not enough to have any intelligent discourse about it without sounding pedantic.

I hope that many of the things I believe are profound in nature...and this results in my inability to discuss them without being run roughshod by someone (general, could be anyone) who thinks they know more than me just because they've read the Bible and therefore all things spouted in quote format by said typical person, I cannot logically take as empirical. It could be that what is said is true, but it's the attitude of that said type that I cannot abide.

And so, I'm not going to say more than this: I wish I hadn't read it, but I did and that has made all the difference.

Day 27- My winner's pedestal is higher than Aaron Sorkin's

Day 27- A book you would write if you had all the resources


And by resources, we mean the ability to write coherently and for several day stretches at a time. 


The Story of Reddit, which would then become a massively popular bestseller, shooting to the top of the NYTimes list within 2 days of its release on Amazon and Barnes&Noble stores. This amazing Great American Novel would then lead to an optioning battle between Paramount, Pathe', and Bad Robot production companies... finally culminating in an excellent seven figure screenplay deal with Joss Whedon and Aaron Sorkin as my seconds.

Getting caught up: 30 DoB Challenge Days 23-26

Peter the bartender at the local pub gave me two books last night... Jeffrey Deaver's Hard News and The Vanished Man. He said they were good toilet reads. 

Really Peter? Come on. Should I read them or is it too icky? Oh, and get this, he then proceeds to tell me an off-color joke about the Mississippi preacher and was disappointed when I'd already heard it. 

I mean, his cadence was even put off! Ruth hadn't heard the joke though and he was able to tell her about the crazy American preacher. 


I wouldn't have minded normally. But he didn't tell it well. Karl Malden did it better and since I can't embed, here's the link to the West Wing episode he did it in. Peter was quite disturbed to know that his joke was in a West Wing episode. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QX6wOOJy0hk


Why did Karl Malden always play a 'man of the cloth'?




Day 23- Favorite Romance Novel

source

and all the other Pride and Prejudice sequels, like Mr Darcy's Daughters, Bridget Jones' Diary, and Mr Darcy Takes a Wife just to name a few. 


Day 24- A Book you later found out the Author lied about

source

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/8459110/Three-Cups-of-Tea-author-made-up-parts-of-book.html
and
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Cups_of_Tea

Day 25- Favorite Autobiographical/Biographical book

source

Day 26- A Book you wish would be written

Shriner Moltar's memoirs

Day 22 or From the Elite Eight to the Final Four to the Championship FTW!

I don't think you're going to like how this ends...

Well, it was inevitable. It was inevitable that I would have Harry Potter in the final four and it's almost predictable that A Song of Ice and Fire, Wheel of Time, and Lord of the Rings would end up here.

How is it that three of the four series in this round are a direct result of my relationship with The Man? Almost disgusting.

Lord of the Rings lost  because it was the first of its genre. Yeah, both have made up languages that were created by the authors, but as Walt Disney is paraphrased, 'keep moving forward'. Dumbledore had to prevail over Gandalf only because Dumbledore, for all his being a wizard, was mortal and lived and loved as such. I don't even know what Gandalf loved other than the status quo of peace.

A Song of Ice and Fire has been consistently great over the course of the entire series. There were books in the Wheel of Time series where I wanted to  (insert the most awful thing you can do to baby seals) and really, I could've done without two whole books of Perrin's whingeing about Faile. Oh, and the traveling circus. I have no idea why that was even part of the plot. 

Really pretty frickin hard to choose the final winner. I had to sleep on it a couple nights. 

Really, what it boiled down to was a point The Man made (and which I agreed with) when we were happily discussing this bracket line-up. For all of it being fiction, A Song of Ice and Fire is highly lacking in the deus ex machina that you have in the Harry Potter series, or the all the rest of the other series for that matter. It's extremely human in that way. 

Plus, there's still more to come. We don't yet know how the story ends...but I sure did like how it began. George R. R. Martin kills off his characters...because he doesn't fall in love with them. You think one character is the protagonist? BAM! Beheaded on the steps of the Sept of Baelor. Then you think, okay...so his son's the person the story's really about. BAM! Murdered by treacherous vassals.

 I may do this with movies sometime. Who's with me?